Two Boks and a BlitzBok for Lions

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The return of two Springboks and a BlitzBok headlines the Lions team for their Round Three United Rugby Championship face-off with Edinburgh at Ellis Park on Saturday.

One-cap Springbok Edwill van der Merwe returns on the left wing in one of four changes – with a positional switch thrown in for good measure.

Van der Merwe, 28, has been out since July after suffering an ankle injury playing for the Lions in the Currie Cup – a month after making his Bok debut against Wales at Twickenham, in London.

Also back from national duty is scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, who slots in at No.9 ahead of utility back Sanele Nohamba – who drops down to the replacement bench.

On the flank, Johannes Pretorius comes in for Ruan Venter, who came off in the win over Ulster last week with a shoulder injury.

Pretorius slots in on the openside flank, with Jarod Cairns moving to No.7.

Juan Schoeman gets a start at loosehead in place of Morgan Naude, who injured his ankle against Ulster.

Hooker Morné Brandon (shoulder injury in the Currie Cup Final) and wing Tapiwa Mafura (leg muscle – against Ulster) have not recovered sufficiently to feature in the matchday squad.

The team plays their final URC home fixture of the year this Saturday.

Ivan van Rooyen’s squad will embark on a three-week tour to Wales, Italy and Ireland starting next week.

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 Johannes Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Reinhard Nothnagel, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Pieter Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Henco van Wyk.

Date: Saturday, October 5
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 13.45 (12.45 UK & Ireland time; 11.45 GMT)
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Henru van Rooyen (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)